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Origin and history

The Gallo-Roman pile of Ordan-Larroque, also known as the Larroque-Mengot or Peyrelongue pile, is a stone quadrangular tower of 12 meters high (15 m originally), built in the middle of the 2nd century. Located on the edge of a hill, it dominates the ancient road linking Elusa (Eauze) to Augusta Auscorum (Auch), highlighting its vocation as a visual signal for travellers. Its trimming of regular bellows, partially preserved on the north face, and the vaulted niche of its facade suggest a cenotaph function, although no direct archaeological evidence confirms this hypothesis.

The pile appears for the first time on Cassini's map under the name Peyrelongue ("long stone"), but its first written report dates back to 1863, without any detailed description. Limited surveys in 1974 and ground exploration in the 1990s did not allow for a precise date of construction, although comparisons with similar southwestern monuments suggest the second century. The basement was partially damaged, but no extensive excavation was conducted. Local tradition reports that a modern niche, dug in the 19th century, housed a statue of the Virgin placed by the chestnut of Larroque, whose castle is less than 500 metres away.

Ranked a historical monument by decree of November 25, 1976, the Ordan-Larroque pile is part of a network of three similar monuments on the town, aligned along the ancient way. Its supposed link to a Gallo-Roman villa located 800 meters – although not visible from the site – and with a nearby necropolis reinforces the hypothesis of a funeral marker for a prominent character. The absence of thorough searches, however, leaves many outstanding issues, including the sponsor and related rites.

Architecturally, the pile is distinguished by its quadrangular plane (5.10 × 3.50 m) and its opus caementicium, typical of Roman constructions. The corner pilasters, now extinct, once supported a decorated archetrave and a cornice, suggesting a building cover. The slope of the soil explains the variations in height between the surfaces. Like other Gers piles, it illustrates the influence of Romanized local elites, combining power symbols and integration into the landscape via major communication channels.

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